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Team has few options with Malcolm Kelly

Well, the Redskins have three choices: Keep him on the active roster and hope his sore hamstring improves, release him or put him on the season-ending injured reserve list.

That's it.

On Tuesday, Washington must cut five players. The 53-man roster must be set Saturday. The Redskins already have paid Kelly almost $1.95 million in salary and bonuses. An injury settlement would seem to be the most likely result after Kelly's latest mishap, which Coach Mike Shanahan described as a "setback."

Kelly is listed at 6-feet-4 and has the best hands on the team, many Redskins players say. That's why the Redskins were still waiting on Kelly while he rehabbed. If Shanahan still believes in Kelly, he could instruct General Manager Bruce Allen to assign the former Oklahoma standout to the season-ending injured-reserve list.

The Redskins cannot list Kelly as physically unable to perform because he did not begin the season on the PUP list, so it now appears Kelly is on shaky ground. Shanahan believes wide receivers must be available to practice to be effective. Kelly has been slowed because of injuries since he joined the Redskins.

Until this week, Kelly had been sidelined since the beginning of training camp because of a severe left hamstring injury, but the Redskins were strongly considering including him on the opening 53-man roster, a person familiar with the situation said repeatedly. Of course, the league source's opinion was based on Kelly eventually returning to practice and remaining physically sound to start the season.

But Kelly re-injured his hamstring Monday and is out indefinitely again with the Redskins preparing to play their preseason finale Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. With Monday's news, it seems a high-profile member of the 2008 draft class may not be with the Redskins much longer.

First to say that Mike Wise imagines his own sources and then tweets them out loud. I noticed comments are closed on his latest article, or should I say fantasy. Especially with a name like Wise, such business really puts a target on your back. We won't be ignored

First to say that Mike Wise imagines his own sources and then tweets them out loud. I noticed comments are closed on his latest article, or should I say fantasy. Especially with a name like Wise, such business really puts a target on your back.

Weighing in on McNabb....he will be fine for Dallas. It is 2 weeks away. A mild sprain does not take 3 weeks to heal. This is all a media over reaction to a shifty answer Shanahan gave.

Posted by: FedorEm

If it's a "high" ankle sprain, it can take months to heal. Or it could be Shanahan forcing Dallas to prep against Rex Grossman, too. Mike knows the Media will overplay an item dropped casually into a press conference...more than any official announcement,.

Sleepy and Coooooley will be used as 4th and 5th receivers on most occassions.

(Gallaway was just camp fodder)

Posted by: 4thFloor |

Not seeing your analysis at all, Dude.

Kelly is either IR or injury settlement.

You completely forgot Armstrong.

Galloway makes the team because Devin is a knucklehead and you don't start a de facto rookie like Armstrong against the Cowboys.

The odds of BOTH Banks and Austen being active the first week are slim and none. I see Banks on Practice squad, where few teams would risk taking him and keeping him on their roster all year. A FA rookie who weighs a buck fifty soaking wet and fumbles?

I'll never root for other teams. EVER! But damn if your faith isn't tested regularly rooting for DC pro teams.

Posted by: RedDMV | August 30, 2010 4:20 PM | Report abuse

Seriously, and the wierd thing is that the longer in goes on (all the crappiness and bad breaks), the more you are just like "Hey, I've dealt with all the crap for this long...why bail now? When things just might turn around?".

And then you get a season of Skins losing, Caps disappointing, Strasburg elbowing, Wiz not being competitive...and then the next year you are like "Hey, I've dealt with all the crap for this long...why bail now? When things just might turn around?"

If it's a "high" ankle sprain, it can take months to heal. Or it could be Shanahan forcing Dallas to prep against Rex Grossman, too. Mike knows the Media will overplay an item dropped casually into a press conference...more than any official announcement,.

Posted by: TheCork | August 30, 2010 4:26 PM | Report abuse

The report earlier said he was walking just fine, and I've heard he can put full weight on it.

He'll be ready week 1. Shanahan knows what he's doing when he speaks to the media.

The Bengals cut Bryant because his knee is gimpy and he can't make cuts. We have our own walking wounded receivers. Kelly is a big received that might be worth waiting on. IR if he can't go Thursday and spend the rest of the year teaching him how to stretch.

Agree with TheCork, send Banks to the practice squad, he's not ready to play this year. He's literally 150 lbs. Desean Jackson was said to be borderline too small for the NFL, and he weights 25 lbs more than Banks.

I doubt another team would be willing to put a 150 lb guy on their active roster, if he can put on 15 lbs in the next year he could be a contributor.

The downside to IR is that he's gets paid his salary, and in a normal year he would count against the salary cap.

So basically, there really isn't a downside to putting him on IR. He would, however, have to agree to it. There is a chance he could decide that his best bet is to get healthy and in another month take a shot with another team.

Upon what do you base your "Devin is a knucklehead" statement? You haven't heard any negative statements about DT from the staff or any unnamed sources. All there has been is speculation about his place on the depth chart. He starts when the lights come on Sept. 12. Book it.

"Keep him (MK) on the active roster and hope his sore hamstring improves....(or) put him on the season-ending injured reserve list."

At some point, someone has to question why a player injured in August should be ineligible to play the remainder of the season should he get healthy.

And whereas we know a lot of the rules regarding the PUP and injured reserve list are intended to stop teams from stashing players, the NFL should consider, as a part of the discussion of lengthening the season, adopting a MLB-style 'disabled list'.

By using 15, 30, 45, and 60 day lists, an NFL team can maintain a roster spot for a player who can come back once he's rehabbed and thus recovered.

Under the present system, a player on the PUP or injured reserve list can't play: even if he gets healthy.

In this case, the skins could put MK on a 45 day list, allow his hamstring to completely heal, and let him play later in the season.

Had such a system been put in place before the previous season, CC would've been playing in the final month.

The league is considering lenghtening the season.

And it should also re-consider not letting guys who get healthy play once they are.

Moe, I couldn't agree more regarding the PUP/IR and proposed disabled list. More so than the team's being affected, imagine the frustration Kelly must feel. He was essentially forced into pushing his hamstring back before it was ready on the threat of losing his job, and now he may be forced into either unemployment or a year of idling for what could end up being a 1 or 2-month injury.

I'd like to see Kelly on IR. The guy is 6'4" and can catch. Then again, same could be said for Marko Mitchell. Anyway. They could see if a year of Pilates and Yoga could get those legs limbered up. What a joke. What's that Doc's name? Galea? Moss has his number. Get Kelly in touch with that guy. Maybe a squirt of HGH is just what those hammies need.

The half season IR stint must come back....its lunacy to have only IR option be "all season" back in the 80's there used to be various increments (4/8/16...i think). It makes no sense not to have that system.

4th: Your WR take is from mars.....

LH: I don't get that DT#11 is a knucklehead and find that unfair as well. I will call him a slacker though based on some of his own comments about not working that hard in offseason. He wont start week 1, but I will "book" that he makes team.

LH - Kevin Sheehaan (I know I know) has said off and on that DT11 has apparently rubbed Shanny the wrong way talking to 'others' in the club, but never gets into specifics. So I was thinking, maybe shanny thinks that DT11 is a 'Thug'.

I'm still high on MK12 for the same reason Shanny is still in his corner.

Look (down) at the Rest.
Then Look (up) at MK12.
Then look back (down) at the Rest.
Now, look back (up) at MK12.
You notice you have to keep looking down at the rest?????

PLUS, everyone on the team acknowledges he has the best hands.

RE: IR question - You can put as many as you want on IR, but they will count against the salary cap, as well as the 53 man roster. So, this year, no additional ramafications in the un-capped year.....

There is a lot to like in MK12. But does it matter if he can't stay healthy? He hurt it before camp. Came into camp and hurt it again. Took 4 weeks off and hurt it again. On top of injuries last year Hand injury during the season) and missing all of his rookie season.

And its not like he's dazzled us when he's been on the field. He lost his starting job last year. His only good game came vs SD's back-ups in their meaningless finale.

A lot of people thought he'd be great running the fade in the endzone, but the times I've seen him try it, its been ugly.

At this time last year, I was hopeful about MK12 and what he might bring to the team.

injury-prone WRs without much of a track record have no trade value. He'll be on IR because Shanny likes his work ethic and having him there can only do good--as opposed to releasing him for another team to grab.
I really don't see Banks making this team over Austin. Banks might have more "wow" factor but I see Austin as more reliable and someone that can run routes better.

Guys with chronic knee/leg injuries should not be entertained. Let Kelly go and do not bring Bryant in. No one pays a guy 8 mil. guaranteed and cuts him if he's healthy and contributing. Bryant is done with that injured knee.

We have to stop being so desperate and making dumb moves and compounding the problem.

I'd like to see Kelly on IR. The guy is 6'4" and can catch. Then again, same could be said for Marko Mitchell. Anyway. They could see if a year of Pilates and Yoga could get those legs limbered up. What a joke. What's that Doc's name? Galea? Moss has his number. Get Kelly in touch with that guy. Maybe a squirt of HGH is just what those hammies need.

Posted by: Thinker_

no doubt Kelly needs to find a program that helps him stay healthy. TJ Housh found yoga helped him a lot. But the Redskins don't need to keep paying MK12 while he tries to figure it out.

He said he hurt himself because he didn't warm up adequately in McNabb's thing in AZ. He's not really doing his best to be healthy.

View Combine Page >>
Featured Prospects
Selected by: St. Louis Rams
Round: 5
Pick (Overall): 18 (149)
Discuss
Pick Analysis: The Rams nab a defensive end with good athleticism and upside with the selection of Hall Davis. The former basketball player has intriguing physical tools, and could develop into a legitimate pass rusher in time. He is an interesting prospect for the Rams to groom for a bigger role in the future.

1.
OVERVIEW
2.
ANALYSIS

Overview

Davis was a two-year starter with solid production in college. He has a good combination of size, strength and athleticism for the position. He is a tough, hardnosed player with power to hold the point versus the run as well as the ability to push the pocket. He has good first-step quickness to gain leverage but isn't a natural reactor as plays unfold. Davis runs well but lacks lateral quickness and agility in space. He is an inconsistent tackler who has natural pop but doesn't always break down in the open field. Davis has tools to build on but lacks great instincts and likely will take time to develop.

a scouting report on the LB from the Rams we got. This was actually a separate trade with St. Louis, not part of the Morris deal. Sidenote: our front office sure seems to be trade-friendly with the Rams--first the Carriker deal and today two more.

I fully expect all the retards who post here not to understand the real meaning of a hamstring injury but what blows my mind is the grasp pro sports DOES NOT have on this injury. It takes at LEAST 2 months to fully recover from this and trying to push it just causes a major setback. I don't like Kelly from what I've seen so far and I think they should probably cut him, but all of you who think this is just some little nothing injury have never seen the entire back of your leg yellow and purple from a serious hamstring pull.

Not sure why so many people are eager to cut a high draft pick and get absolutely zero for him. That would be a poor management decision. If the mri says tear, you IR him. If not, give him a couple more weeks to show what he can do. What's the rush?

4th's WR list is such a laughable mess that I'm not even going to take the time to categorically list the many ways that sh*t is just loud wrong.

O_e nailed it. 'Nuff said.

The more I think about it, the more I think sticking MK on IR is the way to go. Doesn't count toward the final 53 and it gives him one more offseason to show he can play. If he can't get thru Training Camp 2011, then he's gone and there's no excuses.

Never heard of this Hall Davis cat, but if he's even a solid special teamer it's a great trade. Giving up a guy who wasn't going to make the team anyway is friggin' sweet...damn it feels good to have a FO for a change.

On Devin Thomas: Shanahan probably has more than one reason to not like him, but I doubt being a "thug" is one of them. I mean, this is the guy who drafted Maurice Clarett and won SBs with Bill Romanowski. Seems to me he's pretty turd tolerant...

...seriously, it's a blown pick, the dude has injury history; he had it in college; he's had it in the NFL; let it go.

Posted by: p1funk | August 30, 2010 6:50 PM

I was right there with you on this about 12 hours ago...now I'm thinking there's no harm in putting the guy on IR and giving him a last chance next year. To me, the investment has been made and the there's no unringing that bell. It's not like MK is a locker room distraction like AH was/is...there's literally no downside to keeping him around for one more year and seeing if he's a legit player or just some high-priced training camp fodder.

How does this even compare? MK was a draft pick--a bad one but a draft pick nonetheless--and James was literally cut by the Vikes before Vinny called up and offered up a 7th round pick when they could have gotten him for free. That's not even apples and oranges...it's mango and chitlins...

SI is running an article about vets who may be cut. Don't know how many of you saw this, but one paragraph was pretty interesting:

Brandon Stokely
"Stokley's first impression under Josh McDaniels was a magnificent one, catching a deflected ball in the 2009 opener and scoring one of the most memorable game-winning TDs of the year. But Stokley, once called the best slot receiver in football by former coach Mike Shanahan, doesn't fit the McDaniels' mold at wideout.

Upon what do you base your "Devin is a knucklehead" statement? You haven't heard any negative statements about DT from the staff or any unnamed sources. All there has been is speculation about his place on the depth chart. He starts when the lights come on Sept. 12. Book it.

Posted by: learnedhand1 |

He showed up to several camps out of shape. He has had trouble learning the playbook, even one as simple as Zorn's. See, I can't PROVE he's a knuckle head, but a guy with the god-give gifts he has athletically, who has underperformed as a pro, one suspects is one with a head full of knuckles.

Doesn't imply he's a bad citizen, just a, well, knucklehead.

A spectacular game against AZ gets him a start, agreed. But smart money goes on Galloway or Armstrong.

CUT HIM. How many more opportunities is this guy going to get? Its not like he was Randy Moss when he was on the field. Yeah, give him a chance to get his hamstrings right on watch his bum knee go out again. Its a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.

Now that i've gotten that outta the way... your lame attempt to cover for your fellow tards in "the media" with your analysis of DMacs ankle and Shanny's comment... see line one.

Posted by: SkinsfaninKaneohe

Oh I see Coaches never play the Media like Shanahan has. That was my point, it was clear enough for all but you, apparently, so who's the idiot now?

Oh wait, you probably are googling for the answer now, so I better fill you in: You are, sport.

Posted by: TheCork | August 30, 2010 5:01 PM | Report abuse

No cork, yer still an idiot, and the larger part of the media are still a bunch of f'ing tards. I never said coaches never try to use the media to play mind games. I'm clearly stating then and now that the media crapped the bed on this McNabb ankle bit, and are trying to all garner a pass auto humming each other playing the "shanny was using the media to spin". Except for wise and florio. They are apparently planning a cage match after wise idiotically proved my point, and florio felt like the spurned idiot he usually proves himself to be.

You media hacks problem now is that the great unwashed masses can actually watch the video of the comments made, and the questions asked.

The media made a nuclear fire out of a couple of wet soggy twigs. Your delirious ramblings will never change that, so you should really quit trying to rewrite history.

He showed up to several camps out of shape. He has had trouble learning the playbook, even one as simple as Zorn's. See, I can't PROVE he's a knuckle head, but a guy with the god-give gifts he has athletically, who has underperformed as a pro, one suspects is one with a head full of knuckles.

Doesn't imply he's a bad citizen, just a, well, knucklehead.

A spectacular game against AZ gets him a start, agreed. But smart money goes on Galloway or Armstrong.

Posted by: TheCork

When have you ever seen DT out of shape? That dude is always cut up. I ain't buying anything Zoron ever said about those guys. He also said Sleepy Davis didn't know the playbook and we know how that turned out.

I wonder where Barno1 is to tell us on and on about how best-GM-ever Vinny Cerrato's pick, Malcolm Kelly is just misunderstood, slighted by the media, and just generally made out to be a bad guy and that given the opportunity he'll put up Hall-of-Fame numbers immediately?

He said he hurt himself because he didn't warm up adequately in McNabb's thing in AZ. He's not really doing his best to be healthy.

Posted by: zcezcest1 | August 30, 2010 5:31 PM |

You don't "warm up" in 'Zona for Crissakes. It's 120 degs when you step outside. Stretching is another matter though. One question is did the dud have knee and hammy probs in college? If yes, then why did the Skins draft him? If no, then why now but not before?

Of course, if Kelli Johnson is anything like 5'10" or taller, then she's bigger than at least four-fifths of the receiving corps, all of the defensive secondary -- three-quarters of the running backs, and nine-tenths of the special teams unit.

I wonder if she can run some pass patterns or cover a double move.

It's a sure bet that she already knows the playbook better than most of the so-called players, and she would be a definite upgrade for the huddle and hot tub.

We don't have the roster spot for him. IR his azz and hope he can stay healthy next year. He was healthy for most of last year and I see him as injury prone, however if he doesn't stay health next year (preseason) or looks like he won't produce we cut him and curse some other team with Mk and his legs made of porcelain legs.

Some Redskins players would rather not make the long trip this week to face the Arizona Cardinals in the preseason finale at University of Phoenix Stadium.

But top cornerback DeAngelo Hall is not among them.

"Man, I'm just glad our last [preseason] game is Thursday. That just means the week is shorter and the season is about to start," Hall said. "That just means less practice before we really get into it. We've been waiting a long time to get this going, and we're almost there now."

The Redskins on Sept. 12 face the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field. "There's so much stuff we haven't shown as a defense yet, so much stuff that we've been working on that we're finally going to get a chance to do," Hall said. "Redskins-Cowboys to start the season? That's what I'm talking 'bout."

Some Redskins players would rather not make the long trip this week to face the Arizona Cardinals in the preseason finale at University of Phoenix Stadium.

But top cornerback DeAngelo Hall is not among them.

"Man, I'm just glad our last [preseason] game is Thursday. That just means the week is shorter and the season is about to start," Hall said. "That just means less practice before we really get into it. We've been waiting a long time to get this going, and we're almost there now."

The Redskins on Sept. 12 face the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field. "There's so much stuff we haven't shown as a defense yet, so much stuff that we've been working on that we're finally going to get a chance to do," Hall said. "Redskins-Cowboys to start the season? That's what I'm talking 'bout."

No, that's wrong. What is shows is how much talent MK has. Even if we had 4 good receivers we wouldn't want to give up on this guy easily.

Posted by: Friend2All | August 30, 2010 6:29 PM

Easily? This has been far from easy. He misses his whole rookie season. Has a sub par sophomore campaign and then doesn't make it to one day of training camp, practice, or pre season. He's cost us a roster spot for far too long. I've been on his side up until this point. Even earlier today I said that IF he stays healthy I thought he would be on this team. Now, I hope he's gone.

Sorry, I didn't say that well. I meant to say that I think Reid takes criticism of his work on the Skins beat seriously, but not too seriously.

Posted by: NateinthePDX | August 31, 2010 12:58 AM |

Well, at least he's consistent. He did follow an extremely negative and almost vindictive little sh!t in Canfora so I guess it follows that perception of the WaPo beat wroters in general would be the same. He sure does perpetuate it though.

Actually, Washington has to other options on how to handle Malcolm Kelly...

(1) Since Kelly has "good hands" he could be a hand donor to Carlos Rogers who has the legs but not the hands to catch interceptions. Carlos could give Malcolm his hands and then go to Oakland with the rest of the deadbeat Redskins.

(2) Malcolm Kelly could always try to play receiver while walking on his hands and then use his legs as chopsticks.

The more I think about the possibility of getting Brandon Stokley, the more I like it. If there's a choice between Joey Galloway and Stokley as the 2nd/3rd WR, then I'm taking Stokley. Sure hope we pull the trigger on this...

What do you think they'll do with Kelly? IR or cut? IR seems like a waste of a year's salary, money that could be spent to resign some of our guys in the last year of their contracts. But in an uncapped year, well, it's only money.

I guess you'd need to talk to an MD to know whether this guy has any realistic prospect of an NFL career.

What good is Kelly's hands if he is eternally injured? First the knee, last season it was his route running, now its his hammy. That's 2 out of 3 seasons and he yet to show us anything. Chalk this one up as a bust draft pick.

I know it's a young stable for the most part and therefore a bit risky, but this team is rebuidling, right? Why risk losing a potential game-changer like Banks or a diamond in the rough like Austin by putting them on the practice squad in favor of a Wade or Williams? Neither has done much in their careers nor, as far as I've seen, shined in preseason/camp to warrant retarding the youth infusion. Keep getting younger, develop Armstrong/Austin to be a #2, let Banks grow (literally and figuratively, I hope- dude can't long endure at 150 lbs) into the PR/slot WR role, allow the 3 vets to pull the lion's share of the weight in the meantime, Cooley/Davis will help pick up the slack. That's my input, which along with $7 will get you a Starbuck's venti. This isn't a "Super Bowl or bust" year. Show some patience and look to the future.

There is a wide reciever on our roster who had hamstring problems early in his career. He turned out to be pretty good for us after another team basically gave up on him and traded him. He wears number 89.

I think the skins should hold on to Kelly for at least another year. No one who hasn't given up on him is under the impression that he hasn't been hurt a lot, but it isn't like it is one thing that just won't heal.

He was drafted with the expectation that he would miss time as a rookie. He was relatively healty last year and he pulled a hammy right before training camp this year. If he gets hurt next year, I don't think anyone (including him) would argue that he is just injury prone...but, to me, he has too much talent to let go at this point